Flipboard vs Inshorts
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
A free social news magazine that curates stories by topic, with editor-picked newsletters.
Inshorts
News app that summarises each story in 60 words, in English and Hindi, mainly for India.
The short answer
Flipboard suits casual readers who want a curated, visual digest of news by topic, with magazines they can build and share. Inshorts suits readers in India who want a fast daily scan of news in short summaries. The biggest difference is format: Flipboard shows full stories from publishers in a magazine layout, while Inshorts rewrites each story into about 60 words in English or Hindi.
Flipboard or Inshorts: our take
Both are free, ad-supported news apps on the web, iOS and Android, and both pick stories for you rather than letting you follow feeds item by item. Flipboard presents articles from publishers in a magazine-style layout you flip through. You choose interests such as news, technology, travel or sports, follow publishers and other users, and save stories into your own themed magazines that others can follow. Editors and algorithms curate what appears, Flipboard sends free email newsletters such as 10 For Today, and it now connects to the fediverse so you can follow Mastodon accounts and magazines.
Inshorts takes a summary-first approach. Each story becomes a card of about 60 words that you swipe through, linking to the original article from the publisher. A personalised My Feed learns what you read, category sections cover national and world news, business, sport, technology and entertainment, and stories come in English and Hindi. Coverage leans heavily towards Indian news, with limited local news elsewhere.
The trade-offs follow from the formats. Flipboard is better for browsing longer pieces and building collections, but you have limited control over what appears and in what order. Inshorts is quicker for catching up on the day, but short summaries leave out context on complex stories, and there is no paid ad-free option.
Pick Flipboard if you want a visual, topic-based digest of stories from publishers worldwide, like curating and sharing magazines, or want newsletters in your inbox. Pick Inshorts if you are in India, read in English or Hindi, and want to scan the main headlines in a few minutes before opening any full article.
Which should you pick?
Choose Flipboard if…
- Casual readers who want a curated, visual digest of news by topic
- Free, attractive magazine-style layout
- Curated by editors as well as algorithms
Choose Inshorts if…
- Readers in India who want a fast daily scan of news in short summaries
- 60-word summaries make it quick to catch up on the day
- Links back to the original publisher for the full article
About each app
What is Flipboard?
Flipboard is a free news aggregator that presents stories from publishers in a magazine-style layout you flip through. You pick interests such as news, technology, travel, food or sports, follow publishers and other users, and save stories into your own themed magazines that others can follow. A mix of algorithms and human editors curates what appears, and the team also sends free email newsletters, such as a daily selection of ten stories. Recent years have seen Flipboard connect to the fediverse, letting people follow accounts and magazines from Mastodon and similar services. It runs on the web and on iOS and Android, funded by advertising. Unlike an RSS reader, you have limited control over exactly what shows up and in what order, and it is not built for following small blogs or reading every item; it suits casual readers who want a curated, visual digest.
What is Inshorts?
Inshorts is an Indian news app that rewrites each news story into a summary of about 60 words, shown as a card you swipe through. Each short links to the original article from the publisher it came from, and you can read the full piece inside the app. It covers national and world news, business, sport, technology and entertainment, with a personalised My Feed that learns what you read and category sections for browsing. Stories are available in English and Hindi, and readers can vote in polls on some stories. The app is free and supported by advertising, and runs on Android and iOS with a web version for reading in a browser. It is built for people who want a quick scan of headlines rather than depth, and its coverage leans heavily towards Indian news; the company says a US version is coming.
Side by side
| Attribute | Inshorts | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Android, iOS, Web |
| Best for | Casual readers who want a curated, visual digest of news by topic | Readers in India who want a fast daily scan of news in short summaries |
| Status | Active | Active |
Flipboard vs Inshorts pricing
Flipboard: free
We couldn't verify Flipboard's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Inshorts: free
We couldn't verify Inshorts's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Platforms
| Platform | Inshorts | |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Flipboard facts
3 of 3 verified- Positioning
- Social magazine
- Checked Nov 8, 2026flipboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Flipboard: Your Social Magazine”
- Newsletters
- Free, curated by Flipboard
- Checked Nov 8, 2026flipboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Sign up to receive free newsletters, curated by Flipboard”
- Daily newsletter
- 10 For Today, seven days a week
- Checked Nov 8, 2026flipboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “By subscribing, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy 10 For Today Ten stories to inform and inspire your day, selected by Flipboard's editorial team, seven days a week.”
Inshorts facts
4 of 4 verified- Summary length
- 60 words
- Checked Nov 8, 2026inshorts.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “So we cut the clutter and deliver them, in 60-word shorts.”
- Languages
- English and Hindi
- Checked Nov 8, 2026inshorts.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Short English & Hindi News”
- Personalised feed
- Yes
- Checked Nov 8, 2026inshorts.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Our AI engine intuitively understands what you like reading, and delivers more of that in a single feed.”
- Content partners
- 30+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026inshorts.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “more than 30 content partners”
Pros and cons of Flipboard
- Free, attractive magazine-style layout
- Curated by editors as well as algorithms
- Build and share your own magazines
- Free curated email newsletters
- Limited control over what appears and in what order
- Ad-supported
- Not suited to following niche blogs feed by feed
Pros and cons of Inshorts
- 60-word summaries make it quick to catch up on the day
- Links back to the original publisher for the full article
- Available in English and Hindi
- Coverage is centred on India, with limited local news elsewhere
- Short summaries leave out context on complex stories
- Ad-supported, with no paid ad-free option
Other apps to consider
SmartNewsInstead of Inshorts
Free news aggregator with topic channels and local news, designed for skimming headlines quickly as Inshorts is.
Apple NewsInstead of Inshorts
Built-in news app on Apple devices with curated top stories and optional paid magazines.
Flipboard vs Inshorts: common questions
Is Flipboard better than Inshorts?
Flipboard suits casual readers who want a curated, visual digest of news by topic, with magazines they can build and share. Inshorts suits readers in India who want a fast daily scan of news in short summaries. The biggest difference is format: Flipboard shows full stories from publishers in a magazine layout, while Inshorts rewrites each story into about 60 words in English or Hindi.
Is Flipboard free?
Yes, Flipboard is free.
Is Inshorts free?
Yes, Inshorts is free.
Is Flipboard or Inshorts open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Flipboard and Inshorts support?
Flipboard: Web, iOS and Android. Inshorts: Android, iOS and Web.